Adjusting means for buckle folding machine



April 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,173,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28. 1960 13Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Fez ward 5 Ham r J f A ril 13, 1965 E. M.SPRINGER ETAL 3,

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1960 15Sheets-Sheet 2 ger A ril 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,178,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1960 15Sheets-Sheet 3 l lnnlll l' fmsr Pow IN VEN TORS Z c/wara MSprz'zz er Ig; E'afl r 5? Fl! er A ril 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,173,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACH INE 1:5 Shee ts -She a 4 FiledSept. 28, 1960 April 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,173,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28. 1960 13Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Edward JL K 531112381" 5" Jim/f J. flzder April13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINEFiled Sept. 28, 1960 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 A ril 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGERETAL 3,173,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1960 13Sheets-Sheat 9 w 2 a. na y 0 Ed A ril 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL3,178,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28. 1960 13Sheets-Sheet 1O 'nger Edward M 1& g Haz /c J: I 160 M INVENTORS' @012 Z1 de fiw WZW a April 3, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,178,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1960 13Sheets-Sheet 11 16 mmvrons f I dwafd M 5 012225 3 f'azzfi 6'. Fl z'cler1 MfiwMW April 13, 1965 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,178,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACKINE File d Sept. 28, 1960 13Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTORS' April 5 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 3,178,171

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1960 13Sheets-Sheet 13 IN V EN TORS United States Patent 3,173,171 ADEUSTKNGMEANS F032 BUCKLE FG B N MACH F Edward M. Springer and Frank S. Flider,Chicago, ilh' assignors, by niesne assignments, to Beyer inc, Ch!- cago,1 11., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 28, 1969, Ser. No. 59,969

12 Claims. ((31. 270-768) The present invention relates to a foldingmachine and is of the type particularly adapted to folding sheets suchas letters, and customarily utilized in an office.

The folding machine of the present invention is of the type in whichsheets, e.g., letters, are fed into the machine and the machine includesan arrangement for folding the letters once or a plurality of times,selectively, with adjustments for folding a sheet at differentpositions, for forming different kinds of folds. For example, a sheetmay be folded in the following ways which are considered the usual kindsof folds, namely, standard fold, accordion fold, single fold and doublefold.

The means for forming the folds in the sheets includes feeding meanssuch as rollers for advancing the sheets through the machine, and stopslocated at certain positions for limiting the movement of the sheets andcausing them to buckle or be folded at certain steps in their passagethrough the machine, whereupon they are advanced further through themachine in folded condition. These stops are adjustable to diiferentlocations for producing the different kinds of folds.

A broad and main object of the present invention is to provide a foldingmachine of the foregoing general character in which means is providedfor easily and quickly adjusting the stops referred to for controllingthe kind of fold to be produced. The stops referred to, by the nature ofthe folding machine, are in generally opposite locations in the foldingmachine, relative to the fore and aft portions thereof and the directionof advancement of the sheets through the machine. These stops beingspatially separated, it was required, in folding machines heretoforemade, that the means for adjusting those stops be positioned closelyadjacent the stops. Serious disadvantages of this arrangement includedthe fact that all adjusting means and th ir correspondin indicatingmeans were not observable by the operator while viewing from a singlevantage point.

Another broad object of the present invention is to overcome theobjection just stated, and more specifically to provide a remote controltype of adjustment for one of the stops and to arrange the adjustingmeans for the several stops in closely disposed relation so that theoperator may observe them in viewing the machine from a single vantagepoint, and with the advantage that adjustments may be made more quicklyand easily.

Another object is to provide a remote control type of adjusting means ofthe kind just referred to which is of simple construction and whichincludes for the sake of convenience, a single side-positionedmanipulating memer, and stop means extending the full transversedimension of the machine, and having such novel construction thatnotwithstanding this arrangement, the stop means is always maintained intrue position without any binding effect.

Due to the nature of folding machines of the general type which includesthe present folding machine, the rollers for feeding the sheets throughthe machine are located generally at a central portion of the machine.One of the stops for effecting a folding operation is mounted in a platewhich has an entrance portion adjacent the feeding rollers but otherwiseis generally exteriorly exposed. Another object, therefore, of thepresent invention is to provide a novel construction in which the plater. 3,178,171 Patented Apr. 13, 1955 just referred to containing one ofthe stops is easily demountable from the remainder of the machinewhereby to facilitate access o the central portion of the machine and tofacilitate removing any papers that should be jammed therein, which is adifiiculty encountered in all folding machines although minimized andsubstantially eliminated in the machine of the present invention.

A further object is to provide a folding machine of the foregoinggeneral character having intermittent or ev l f e sh ets th g t emachine w y to minimize and substantially eliminate jamming of thesheets in the machine.

A still further object, and a refinement included in the object justabove stated, is to pr vide feeding means which is of the stripper type,i.e., the sheets which are placed on the feed'table for the purpose offeeding them through the machine are released singly from the feedtable, each ef r a li s ssiv sheet is rel a d Another object is toprovide a folding machine having feed means of the kind just referred toin which effective pressure on the means for removing the sheets from te e tab e may b vari s as vtov pro uce the req pressure for sheets ofdifferent character such, for example, as thin and thick sheets, smoothand rough sheets, etc.

Still another object is to provide a folding machine of qresq n ene alhar te wh s i readily a p lable for automatic successive feeding ofsheets and fold: ing them, or manual and individual feeding of thesheets d v dins thei tiv y. w erein a n v single trol member is utilizedfor controlling each operation.

$til a o he old s is t pro ide a foldin machine of the foregoing generalcharacter including novel adjustn means f r o e o the old ng s ops abovereferred to, to etfect even folding of the sheets where uneven foldingmay otherwise result due to uneven shape of the sheets;

Another object is to provide, in a folding machine of the foregoinggeneral character, novel conveying means for receiving the folded sheetsand conveying them' out of the machine onto a tray.

A still further object is to provide conveying means of the kind justreferred to, which is actuated intermittently or cyclically insynchronism with the intermittent or cyclic operation of the feedingmeans whereby to facilitate even Sl t k n 9. e famed shee s o a t a Afurther object is to provide novel means for resiliently retaining thefolded sheets on the receivingmean's during their course of conveyanceonto the tray, including resilient fingers and novel means for mountingthem in t m ch n Another object is to provide a mechanical counter, andmeans for connecting it with the driving means of the machine in such aWay as to operate the counter in synchronism with the cyclic operationof the machine vand additionally in which a single sheet is advancedthrough the machine in each cycle of operation whereby to enable amechanical counter to accurately indicate the number of sheets advancedthrough the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a folding machine made according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a front end view of the folding machine taken from the left ofFIG. 1, but with certain parts removed or shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the machine but with certain parts removedor shown insection;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a fore-and-aft vertical sectional view of the machine, takenapproximately on line 5 5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a View from the right-hand side of the machine 3 (right sideof FIG. 2), but with the side casing member removed;

FIG. '7 is a view from the left hand side of the machine (left side ofFIG. 2), but with the side casing member removed;

FIG. 8 is a view taken aproximately on line 8-8 of FIG. 9 but with thereceiving tray shown in section;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the conveyor means and receiving tray takenapproximately on staggered line 9-9 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view taken aproximately in line 10-1t3 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on staggered line 11-11 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the first fold plate and taken approximatelyon line 1212 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of certain control mechanism shown at theleft hand portion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, but with certain elements inalternate positions;

FIG. 15 is also a view similar to FIG. 13, but with elements in otherpositions;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the members ofFIGS. 13, 14, and 15 FIG. 17 is a fragmentary detail view of one of themembers shown in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 but from the opposite sidethereof, being taken approximately on line 17-17 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 18 is a semi-diagrammatic view of the members effecting the foldingoperations, showing a step at the beginning portion of the operation forfolding a sheet in a standard form;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 but showing a further step inmaking a standard fold;

lFIG. 20 is a detail view of a sheet folded in a standard fo d;

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 18, but showing an early step in afolding operation for making an accordion fold;

FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 21, but showing a further step inmaking an accordion fold;

FIG. 23 is a detail View of a sheet folded in an accordion fold;

FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 18, but showing an early step in afolding operation for making a single fold;

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 24, and showing a further step inmaking a single fold;

f 1FIG. 26 is a detail view of a sheet folded in a single FIG. 27 is aview similar to FIG. 18 and showing an ealrly step in a foldingoperation for making a double fo d;

FIG. 28 is a view similar to FIG. 27, but showing a further step inmaking a double fold; and

FIG. 29 is a detail View of a sheet folded in a double fold.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, attention is directed first toFIG. 1 showing the folding machine of the present invention in overallview. The machine indicated in its entirety at 12 includes a main body14, a feed table 16 upon which the sheets 18 to be folded are placed,and a receiving tray 20 upon which the folded sheets are deposited afterpassing through the machine and being folded. Also shown in FIG. 1 are afirst fold plate 22 and a second fold plate 24 which function with othermembers of the machine to fold the sheets. The fold plates 22 and 24 areshown also and in better view in FIG. 5, this figure also showing a setof rollers 26 which serve to pass the sheets through the machine and inconjunction with the fold plates 22 and 24 to perform the foldingoperations thereon.

The machine proper or body 12 has a framework including right and leftvertical side plates 28 and 30, respectively, spaced apart and securedtogether by necessary structural elements which need not be identifiedindividually. These side plates in so far as the description of thefunction of the machine is concerned may be considered to constitute theframework of the machine, supporting other members in and between theside plates, as well as other members outwardly of the respective sideplates. Casing members 29 and 31 are secured to the side plates forenclosing most of the operating parts mounted on the outer sides of theside plates.

The feed table 16, while it may be any of various constructions,preferably is of the kind disclosed in the copending application of thepresent Springer, Serial No. 795,699, filed February 26, 1959, now US.Patent No. 3,029,074, to which reference may be had for complete detailsof the structure thereof. Briefly, for present purposes, the table 16includes a bottom supporting plate element 32 upon which the sheets 18are placed and side flanges 34 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5). The plate elementis provided with a surrounding depending flange 36, including a frontelement 38 (FIG. 5) having apertures for receiving pins 46 mounted in atransverse member 42 secured to the side plates of the machine andhaving a depending portion 44 in which the pins are directly mounted andan upper deflecting portion 46 utilized for guiding sheets in passingthrough the machine, as will be described in detail hereinbelow. Theflange 36 also includes side elements 48 which are received betweenclips 50 mounted on the side plates, and those side plates. The feedtable 16 is thus demountably supported in the frame of the machine bymeans of the pins 40 and clips 50, being placed in position by holdingthe feed table at an angle with the leading end (right end FIG. 5)lowermost to insert the pins 40 in the apertures and then lowering theouter and opposite end to insert the flange elements 48 in the spacesbetween the clips 59 and the corresponding side plates. The tray isremoved by opposite and corresponding movements.

The sheets 18, as a stack are butted against a front post 52 whichserves as a locating means for placing the stack on the tray. The sheetsare also constrained against displacement from the feed table by areleasing means shown particularly in FIGS. 3 and 5 which includesfingers 54 which overlie and engage the top sheet. The feed table is ofthe stripper type in the operation of which the sheets are stripped anddelivered from the stack individually and only one at a time. Thespecific method of accomplishing this will be referred to againhereinbelow, and further details of the stripping and feeding operationmay be found in the copending Spring er application referred tohereinabove.

The means for feeding the sheets from the table shown generally at 56 isdisclosed and claimed in the copending Springer application referred toabove and as shown particularly in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, herein itincludes a pair of feed wheels 58 mounted on a rotatable shaft 60. Thefeed wheels 58 rotate with the shaft 60 and thereby frictionally engagethe top sheet of the stack of sheets, when the feed means is loweredinto operative position, and feed the sheets from the stack. Associatedwith the shaft 60 and the feed wheels 58 is a rigid bar 62 which,together with the shaft (it), is mounted in arms 64 and 66 at oppositesides of the machine outwardly of the side plates. The bar 62 and shaft69 together form a rigid assembly movable as a unit, the bar 62 servingas a hand grip for raising the shaft 60 and the feed wheels 58 thereonupwardly out of engagement with the sheets on the feed table, and thusout of operative position.

In the feeding operation, the feed means 56 rests on the top of thestack of sheets 18 and lowers by gravity pursuant to depletion of thesheets. After the last sheet from the stack is fed through the machine,the feed wheels 58 fall into depressions 63, as described fully in thecopending Springer application referred to above, and effect a shuttingoff operation, to be explained in detail hereinbelow in conjunction withother operating members of the apparatus.

The set of rollers 26 includes individual rollers 25a, 26b, 26c, and 26dmounted in and between the side plates and arranged for rotation in thedirections of the associated arrows for feeding the sheets through themachine. These rollers include two positively driven rollers, namely 26aand 26c, and two follower rollers 26b and 26:1. The means for drivingthe driven rollers will be described hereinbelow. The rollers 26 inthemselves may be of any suitable construction having the desiredfriction surface for en aging the sheets to be passed therebetween, suchas a rubber or rubber-like material mounted on shafts 79a, 79b, 7&0, and76d, respectively. The shafts 76a and 700 are mounted in bushingsstationarily located in the side plates while the shafts 76b and 70dproject through slots 72b and 72d in the side plates for movement towardand from the associated ones of the driven rollers. Springs 74 arearranged for biasing the latter shafts, and thus the rollers mountedthereon, toward the associated driven rollers, being compressed betweenthe the shafts and fixed elements in the side plates. The roller 26b isbiased into a position in which it engages both the rollers 26a and 260,while the roller 26d is biased into engagement only with the roller 26c.

The deflecting element 46 referred to above cooperates with anotherdeflecting element 76 which may be part of a shield 78 having a topelement 86 secured to a transverse bar 82 serving as a means forsupporting the member 78 in position, and the top element 8% serves alsoto cover and conceal certain otherwise exposed elements. The deflectingelements 76 and 46 form a hopperlike guiding means having a wideentrance space for receiving the sheets 18 from the feed table 16 andconverging toward the rollers 26 to a narrow space 84 forming an outletopening directed toward and closely adjacent to the bight between therollers 26a and 26b. Pursumt to a sheet being fed from the stack onsheets on the feed table 16, it enters the space between the deflectingelements 76 and 46 and is fed through the space 84 to the bight betweenthe two rollers mentioned and gripped by the latter rollers and passedfurther along to the succeeding pairs of rollers.

Drive means is provided for driving all of the driven members in theapparatus which include the feed means 56 and the rollers 26, as well asother instrumentalities, namely, conveyor means 36 and a counter 88. Thelatter two instrumentalities will be described in detail hereinbelow butfor the purpose of fully describing the drive means it is pointed outthat the conveyor means 86 includes a driven shaft 95) (FIG. 5) which ismounted in and between the side plates of the machine and the counter 83includes in its drive train a gear 92 (FIG. 7). The drive means includesany suitable source of motive power such as an electric motor 94- (FIGS.2 and 5), having a drive shaft 96 connected with a shaft 98 suitablymounted in the frame of the machine and having a pulley 169 (FIG. 6) atits extended end outwardly of the associated side plate 28. Trained onthe pulley 1613 is a belt 11, 2 which is also trained over anotherpulley 194 mounted on a stub shaft 1th: in the side frame 28. The stubshaft 166 also bears another pulley 108 (FIGS. 2 and 6) over which istrained a belt 110 which is also trained on another pulley 112 mountedon a shaft 114. The shaft 114 extends through to the other side of themachine, with its opposite end supported in the associaated side plate3t) and on its outer end outwardly of the latter side plate providedwith a gear 116 and a cam 118 (FIGS. 3 and 7). The gear 116 meshes withthe gear $2 referred to above, in the drive train for the counter 82,and it also meshes with another gear 129 mounted on a stub shaft 122upon which is also mounted a gear 124 arranged for conjoint rotationwith the gear 129.

The cam 113 cooperates with a clutch 126, these members being preferablyof the type disclosed and claimed in the copending application of thepresent Springer Serial No. 623,492, filed November 20, 1956, now US.Patent No. 2,961,947. in that application a double clutch and camarrangement is shown, while in the present instance only a single clutchand cam are utilized, the present arrangement being equivalent toone-half of the assembly utilized in said copending application. Theclutch 126 (FIGS. 3 and 7) is mounted on a shaft section 128 which ismounted coaxially with and in a bearing means supported by the shaft 70aon which the roller 26:: is mounted (FIG. 5). The latter shaft isprovided with a gear 130 meshing with the gear 124 and arranged forconstant driving thereby. The roller 26a is thus positively driventhrough the gear 130. It is desired also that at least one additionalroller be positively driven so e that at least one roller in each pairof rollers 26 be positively driven. Referring to FIG. 6, the shaft 76ahas a gear 131 on its opposite end, i.e., the end opposite the gear 13%,disposed on the right side of the machine outwardly of the side plate 28(FIGS. 3 and 6). This gear 131 meshes with an idler gear 133 rotatablysupported on a stub shaft 135 mounted in the side plate 28, the lattergear 135 meshing with another gear 137 on the shaft 70c which bears theroller 260. Thus are the two rollers 26a and 260 positively driven, asmentioned above, while the other two rollers 26b and 26d are rotated byfriction engagement with the driven rollers. It will be seen that ineach pair of rollers 26 which cooperate to feed a sheet therebetween,one is positively driven.

Mounted on the shaft section 128 together with the clutch means 126 is agear 132 arranged for driving a train of gears 134 and in mesh with oneof those gears. The clutch means 126 is controlled by the cam 11% whichincludes a high point 134 extending a substantial portion of the angulardimension of the cam and in the present instance in the neighborhood of75% thereof and a low point 136. The clutch means 126 includes a controllever 138 engaged by the high point 134 of the cam, and when it is soengaged, the clutch means is deactivated but upon movement of the lowpoint 136 into registration with the control lever 138, the latter isenabled to move outwardly and activate the clutch means whereupon it isrotated with the shaft 70a. The clutch means 126 makes one completerevolution each time the low point 136 comes into registration with thecontrol lever 138 or, in other words, at each revolution of the cam 134.Check means indicated in its entirety at 141 is provided for preventingback lash of the clutch means 126.

The gear train 134. includes a first gear 142 mounted on a shaft 144which extends through the machine to the opposite side, to whichreference will be made hereinagain. The arm 54- referred to above inconnection with the feed means 56 (FIG. 5) is pivoted on the shaft 144for swinging about the axis thereof, and it supports the remainder ofthe gears of the gear train, namely, gears 146, 14-8, and 150. The gears146 and 148 are mounted on stub shafts supported by the arm 64, whilethe gear 150 is mounted on the shaft 69 on which also the feed wheels 53are mounted. A one-way clutch 151 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is interposed betweenthe gear 154? and shaft 60. The gear 142 remains in stationary locationand in mesh with the gear 132 while the remaining gears 146, 148, and150 remain in mesh with the respective adjacent gears but are carried bythe arm 64- in the swinging movements of the latter. The side plate 30is provided with an arcuate slot 152 for receiving the shaft 69 and rod62 and providing for the movements of the latter. In the opposite sideplate 28 is provided a similar arcuate slot 154 (FIG. 6). Thus the drivefrom the gear 132 to the gear 156 and thus the shaft 60 on which thefeed wheels are mounted is maintained regardless of the verticalposition of the shaft 60.

The shaft 144 referred to above extending through to the opposite sideplate 28 is provided with a pulley 156 (FIG. 6) on which is trained abelt 158, this belt also being trained on a pulley 160 mounted on theshaft 96 7, which is included in the conveyor means as mentioned aboveand shown best in FIG. 5. Upon rotation of the gear 132 (FIG. 7), driveis transmitted to the feed wheels 58, and to the conveyor means 86, thisdrive in the case of both instrumentalities being intermittent, inaccordance with the intermittent rotation of the clutch means 126. Itmay be here stated that all of the drive from the motor 94 to the clutchmeans 126 is constant.

As the next step in the description of the apparatus and the operation,attention is directed to the fold plates 22 and 24, a detaileddescription of which follows pres ently. Briefly, the fold plates 22 and24 are adapted for receiving or otherwise controlling the sheets intheir passage through the machine by means of the rollers 26 forperforming the folding operation. Referring first in detail to the foldplate 22, this plate includes a pair of plate elements 162 and 164(FIGS. 4 and both extending substantially throughout the area of theplate. These plate elements are spaced apart a slight distance, slightlygreater than the thickness of the heaviest paper intended to be foldedby the machine. These plate elements may be secured together in anysuitable way such as by means of spacers 166 and screws 168 (FIG. 4).One of the plate elements may be provided with downturned flanges 170 atthe sides for engagement with the inner surfaces of the side plates 28and 39 and for providing the means for detachably mounting the foldplate in the side plates. This means for mounting the fold plate in theside plates includes inwardly projecting pins 172 secured in the sideplates received in notches 174 formed in the inner end edges of the sideflanges. Cooperating with these pins and notches are latch means 176,two of which are provided, one shown in end view in FIG. 5 and bothshown in FIG. 12. These latch means may be identical and a descriptionof one will suffice for both. The latch means 176 includes a body member178 in which is slidably mounted a plunger 1343 projected through anaperture in the flange 170 and biased to outer position by a tensionspring 1&2 connected between the plunger and a fixed portion of thelatch. Extending inwardly from the plunger is a slide element 184terminating in a finger-grip angle piece 186. These two finger grips 186may be grasped by the thumb and finger and drawn toward each otherinwardly for releasing the plungers 180 from their securing positionswhich are in apertures in the corresponding side plates 28 and 30, oneof which is shown at 188 in FIG. 6. The fold plate 22 may be inserted inposition by inserting the inner end (left hand FIG. 5) into the spacebetween the side plates to a position in which the pins 172 are receivedin the notches 174 and then adjusting the outer end until the plungers180, after having been drawn inwardly, are in line with the apertures188 in the side plates, and then releasing these plungers to enable themto enter into the apertures. The plate is then demountably secured inplace by the pin-notch connection 172174 and the plunger-apertureconnection 1881488. The fold plate is removed from its position bysimilar and opposite movements.

The fold plate 22 has an entrance opening 190 at its inner end leadingto the interior space 163 between the plate elements. When the foldplate is in its proper position, this entrance opening 198 is closelyadjacent the exit bight of the rollers 26a and 2612 as well as theentrance bight of the rollers 26b and 260. This entrance opening isappropriately shaped for accommodating the sheet being folded, in thepresent instance formed at least partially by an upturned portion 192 ofthe upper plate elemen-t162.

In the folding operation the sheet on leaving the exit bight of therollers 26a and 26b enters into the space 163 in the fold plate and theelement that is directly engaged by this sheet is a stop element 194which functions as described in detail hereinbelow. This stop element194 is in the form of an elongated strip or bar (FlG. 12) disposedbetween the plate elements and carried by an adjusting-locking meansindicated in its entirety at 196, enabling manual adjustment of the stopelement 194 longitudinally of the fold plate as well as locking the stopelement in adjusted position. For accommodating the assembly 196 and thestop element 194, the plate 22 is provided with a plurality of elongatedlon itudinally extending slots including a central slot 198 cut in bothof the plate elements and side slots 200 which may be cut in only one ofthe plate elements such as the lower plate element 164 for receivingprojections 2&2 formed on the stop element 194. This stop element 194extends the greater portion of the transverse dimension of the foldplate and is mounted on a pin 2M for swinging movement about the axis ofthat pin, the pin being included as an element of the assembly 196. Thepin is directly mounted in a block 206 riding in the central slot 193. Athumbscrew 208 extends through an aperture in the block 266 (FIGS. 4 and5 and threaded into a clip 210. The block 206 has side portionsoverlying and engaging the upper surface of the plate element 162 whilethe clip 216 has lateral portions engaging the under surface of thelower plate element 164 and upon tightening of the thumbscrew 298 theelements 206 and 210 are brought to bear on opposite sides of the platefor locking the assembly 196 in adjusted position. Upon releasing thepressure provided by this thumbscrew, the assembly can be adjustedlongitudinally of the slot 198 for adjusting the stop 194 toward andfrom the entrance opening and thus the rollers 26.

For the purpose of preventing the plate elements 162 and 164 from beingcompressed or moved together excessively, a shim 212 is included in theassembly 196 and interposed between the plate elements. Also, for thepurpose of providing guiding functions, the block 206 is provided with areduced portion 214 (FIG. 4) riding in the slot 198 in the upper plateelement, and an element 216 rides in the groove in the lower plateelement 164. The reduced portion 214 and the element 216 havesubstantial dimension longitudinally of the slot for maintaining theassembly in accurate position and against cocking or binding. The block206 and the elements 212 and 216 may be secured together by shoulderedscrews 217 having outer end portions extended loosely through aperturesin the clip 210 for guiding the latter.

The element 216 is provided with an elongated extension 218 (FIG. *5)terminating in an upturned tab 220 receiving one end of a stem 222 of athumbscrew 224, and serving as a reaction member for that thumbscrew.The other end of the stem 222 is threaded in a tapped transverse hole ina cylindrical stud 226 (FIG. 12) received in a circular enlargement 228of a slot 230 in the stop element 194. The stud 226 is offset from thepin 204 on which the stop element 194 is supported, and upon threadingthe thumbscrew 224 in one direction or the other the stop element 194 ismade to swing about the axis of the pin 2&4 to any of various positionsincluding a perpendicular position or angular positions in eitherdirection therefrom. In folding operations irregularities are oftenencountered, including inaccuracies of the sheets being folded, and toovercome uneven folding of the sheets due to such inaccuracies,adjustments may be made in the stop element 194 to the desired position.

An indicating finger 232 (FIG. 3) is mounted for swinging movement withthe stop element 194 such as by mounting it on an end of the pin 204extended through to the top of the assembly (FIG. 3). The indicatingfinger 232 is provided with an indicating mark 234 which cooperates withanother mark 236 on a fixed portion of the assembly such as the block206.. Appropriate indications are thus provided, such, for example, asthe perpendicular position of the stop element 194 being indicated byregistration of the marks 234 and 236.

240 on the upper surface of the fold plate. These indicating markings241) may include the letters A, B, C, etc., as indicated at. 246a, orother markings indicated at 24012,

which may be inch markings. The letter markings 240a may be utilized forindicating desired predetermined positions for eifecting certain formsof folds, while the markings 2401) may be utilized for determiningabsolute distances of the stop element 194 from the entrance opening191) of the fold plate, and thus the rollers 26. As will be explained indetail hereinbelow, the position of the stop element 194, as determinedby the position of the assembly 196 determines, with other elements ofthe machine, the kind of fold to be made in the sheet.

The fold plate 22, as will be observed particularly from FIGS. 1 and 5,is disposed adjacent an upper portion of the machine and its uppersurface is exposed substantially entirely to the observation of theuser. The assembly 196 utilized for adjusting the stop element isreadily and easily accessible to the user or operator, and closely adjacent this assembly, is another adjusting means indicated broadly at242 for making corresponding adjustments in the stop element of thesecond fold plate 24 which, as will be seen from FIGS. 1 to 5, is at aposition remote from the first fold plate 22.

Referring to the detail construction of the second fold plate 24 (FIGS.5 and 11), this plate is made up of upper and lower plate elements 244and 245, respectively, extending across the space between the sideplates 28 and 30. One of the plate elements, such as the lower one 246,is provided with side flanges 248 engaging the side plates and servingas a means for supporting the fold plate thereon, such securing meansbeing represented by screws 250 (FIG. 5). The plate elements 244 and 246are spaced apart by spacers 252 (FIG. 11) and secured together as byscrews 254.

The plate elements 244 and 246 define a space 245 therebetween which isslightly greater than the thickness of the thickest folded sheetintended to be received therein. The fold plate has an entrance opening247 disposed for receiving a sheet issuing from the rollers 26b and 260in a manner described in detail hereinbelow.

Mounted in the bottom fold plate 24 is an assembly indicated in itsentirety at 256 (FIG. 5) and mounted for movement longitudinally of thefold plate. For this purpose the fold plate is provided with a pluralityof central slots 257 and two side slots 259 (FIG. 2) extending thegreater distance of the longitudinal dimension of the plate (FIG. 5).The assembly 256, in certain positions thereof, provides a stop foreffecting a folding operation and, in another position, a deflectormeans for preventing entry of the sheets into the space 245. Thisassembly includes a rigid subassembly 258 made up of upper and lowerelongated strips 260 and 252 extending transversely across the plate,the strips being, respectively, above and below the plate, and havingstop elements 264 mounted therebetween. These stop elements 2&4, shownin FIG. 11, include outer sleeves 266 serving as rollers and rotatablymounted on stems 268 having one end secured in for example the lowerstrip 262 and the upper end secured to the upper strip 250 as by screws269. These stop elements 264 ride in the slots .257 in the fold plate,the rollers or sleeves 266 enabling free movement of those rollerswithin the slots for facilitating adjusting movements of the assembly inthe plate, while aiding in maintaining the assembly 256 in accuratetransverse position, perpendicularly of the slots.

The upper strip 264 has downturned end portions forming tabs 270projected for free movement in the side slots 259, these tabs beingutilized for pivotally mounting a deflector member 272. This deflectormember 272 also is in the form of a strip extending transversely acrossthe plate with downturned lugs or tabs 274 also projected freely in theslots 259 and engaging the tabs 279 where they are secured thereto bymeans such as pins 276 for limited swinging movement of the member 272relative to the subassembly 256. The strip or member 272 has adownwardly inclined portion 278 at its inner end to which 10 is secureda deflecting element 280 disposed at a predetermined angle, as explainedbelow.

The deflector member 272 is arranged for lowering by gravity and rideson the upper surface of the fold plate in retracted position of theassembly 256, but is in position for dropping over the opening 247- ofthe fold plate when the assembly is moved to its advanced position asshown in FIGS. 24 and 25 for deflecting sheets from entering into thespace 245.

The lower strip 262 has an extension projected through a slot 282 in theside plate 23 (FIGS. 6 and 11) where its outer end is connected to oneend of an actuating link 284, the characteristic shape of which is shownin FIG. 6 The link 284 at its opposite end is secured to an element 286extended through a slot 288 in the side plate 28 and cooperating withthe adjusting means 242 referred to above. The link 284 may be made upof a pair of spaced elements for convenience in fabricating, andstrength and rigidity, but the points of connection between the link 284and the elements 262 and 286 are rigid and transversely spaced toprovide a rigid assembly between the element 236 and the assembly 256 inall positions of adjustment, and in the adjusting movements thereof. Thelink 284 is specially designed for positioning on the outer side of theadjacent side plate 28 in the midst of various other operating andmoving parts to be covered by the adjacent casing member and forming aremote control member between the fold plate 24 and the adjusting means242 which are at quite remotely spaced positions, the fold plate beingin a relatively inaccessible position but providing the adjusting means242 at a position adjacent an upper and fully exposed area in thefolding machine, namely above the first fold plate and adjacenttheadjusting assembly for enabling these two adjusting means to be readilyobserved together, due to their close proximity, by the operator of themachine. The slots 282 and 238 (FIG. 6) are disposed at the angle of thesecond fold plate 24.

The adjusting means 242 (see particularly FIG. 11) is mounted in andcooperates with mounting means 290 whichis in a form of a strip foldedto U-shape and having flanges 292 engaging the inner surface of the sideplate 28 and secured thereto. The strip 290 thus provides an upperelement 294 and a lower element 296 spaced apart to freely receive theelement 286. An elongated slot 298 is formed in these two elements,extending the greater portion of the length of the strip and ofsufiicient length to accommodate the degree of adjustment desired forthe assembly 256. The adjusting means 242 includes a thumbscrew 3%having a stem externed through an element 3M. with a reduced portion 304riding in the slot in the element 294. The stem is projected through anaperture in the element 236 and through another element 306 riding inthe slot in the lower element 296. The stem finally is threaded in atapped hole in a clip 308 engaging the under surface of the element 2%.Upon tightening the thumbscrew 30f? opposite pressures are brought tobear by the element 304 on the element 286, and by the clip 3% on theunder surface of the element 296 for locking the adjusting means inadjusted position.

The elements 332, 256 and 396 are secured together in an assembly bymeans of screws 310 (FIG. 10). The reduced portion 364 and the element366 which ride in the respective portions of the slot 298 are ofsubstantial length longitudinally of that slot to provide a desiredguiding effect and prevent any cocking or binding movements or actionsof the element 286. This guiding action together with the rollers of theassembly 256 (FIGS. 5 and 11) in the slots in the lower fold plate,together with the rigid and strong connections between the element 286,link 284 and strip 262, provides easy adjustment of the assembly 256while maintaining the assembly 256 in accurate position transversely ofthe fold plate. 4

The element 392 of the adjusting means (FIG. 3) is provided withindicator markings 312 which cooperate with other indicator markings 314on a fixed portion of the machine such as the upper surface of themounting means 290. These indicator markings may include letters 314aand other markings such as inch markings 3145 for a purpose similar tothat of the markings 240.

As will be observed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the stop adjusting means 196and 242, and the associated indicator markings 240 and 314 are disposedclosely adjacent each other. The operator can make the necessaryadjustments in the two adjusting means in a very simple and coordinatedmanner. From a single position in the use of the machine both adjustingmeans can be easily and clearly observed due to the remote controlarrangement between the adjusting means 242 and the lower fold plate 24.All settings of the stops are made by means of only these two adjustingmeans. If desired, the upper surface of the fold plate 22 may beprovided with imprinted instructions such as in area 316 with respect tothe settings for the adjusting means for producing the various folds inthe sheets, to be described hereinbelow.

Reference is now made to the conveyor means 86 (FIGS. 5, 8, and 9) whichincludes a plate 318 extending transversely across the machine havingdownturned flanges 320 provided with slots 322 receiving pins 324mounted in the side plates of the frame. Tension springs 326 areinterconnected between the plate, such as by means of lugs 328 struck infrom the flanges, and corresponding ones of the pins 324- The flangesare provided with extensions 330 having notches 332 receiving thereduced end portions 334 of a shaft 336 which can be lifted out of thenotches by forcing the plate 318 relatively away from it (to the leftFIG. 5) as by holding the shaft and moving the plate by the hand. Thisarrange ment maintains an accurate and taut condition of the belts 338on the conveyor means. These belts are trained over the shaft 336 andover the drive shaft 90 referred to above in surrounding relation tothose two shafts and the plate 318. The shafts 90 and 336 are providedwith reduced portions 340 (FIG. 9) for receiving the belts 338 andretaining the belts in the intended lateral spacing. The springs 326bias the plate 318 and the shaft 336, together as a unit, away from thedrive shaft 90, maintaining the belts 338 in taut position, it beingunderstood that the shaft 90 remains fixed in location.

Cooperating with the belts 338 for the purpose of controlling the sheetsas they are being conveyed by the conveyor means 86 are spring fingers342 which yieldingly engage the upper surfaces of sheets being conveyedby the belts. Each of these fingers, all identical, includes an outerportion 344 overlying a substantial length of the upper run of thecorresponding belt and its inner end is mounted in the frame of themachine. The mounting means for the inner ends of the fingers includesclip 346, each substantially U-shaped in plan view having a web 348 towhich the spring finger is secured, and flanges 350 having aperturesreceiving a mounting rod 352 which is mounted in and between the sideplates 28 and 36. Preferably, the rod is square or polygonal, the cliphaving similarly shaped apertures for preventing rocking or rotation ofthe clips about the axis of the rod. The upper extreme end portion ofthe spring finger is turned over at 354 and yieldingly engages a surfaceof the mounting rod 352. The clips are slidable along the rod and theend portions 354 through friction engagement with the rod yieldinglyretain the fingers in adjusted positions along the rod.

For the purpose of preventing or dissipating static electricity from thesheets being deposited on the conveyor means, an element such as a stripof tinsel 356 is extended transversely across the space between the sideplate above the conveyor means in position for the sheets to rubthereon. This tinsel means may be mounted in any suitable manner such asby means of lugs 358 secured to the rod 352 as by means of clips 36%(PEG. 9).

The receiving tray 21' identified above (FIG. 1) is shown in detail inFIGS. 5, 8 and 9. The tray includes a bottom panel 362 and an upturnedflange 364- or a backstop at its outer end. The tray is provided with'anotch 366 cut through both the bottom panel and the back flange toenable the operator to insert the hand in the notch and grip the stackof folded sheets on the tray and liftthem out in an upward direction.The tray is adapted to be positioned relative to the discharge end ofthe conveyor means 36, being slidably mounted for this purpose in clipsor holders 368 secured to the inner surfaces of the side plates 23 and30. As here shown, these clips each include a flat piece fitted againstthe surface of the respective side plate and a hook portion 370 in whichis received a flange element 372 of a member 374 secured to the undersurface of the tray. The flanges 372 are slidable in the hook portions370 and enable the tray to be slid or adjusted in and out, the clips orbrackets 368 being of sufficient length to support the tray, andsuffiCiEIlt friction is established to prevent undue displacement of thetray, considering the fact that the tray slopes downwardly andoutwardly, this sloping position facilitating stacking of the foldsheets thereon. It will be understood that the tray is adjusted tovarious positions according to the particular fold being performed, forpositioning the rear flange 364 outwardly sufficiently to enable thesheets to engage the flange and yet clear the outer end of the conveyormeans.

Reference is next made to the counter 88 (FIG. 5) and the drive meanstherefor (FIG. 7). The counter is a mechanical counter having indicatingelements moved in advancing direction pursuant to operation of the drivemeans therefor which includes the gear 92 (FIG. 7) referred to above,which in turn is driven by the drive means of the machine through thegear 116. The ratio between the gears 116 and 92 is such that thecounter is advanced one unit indication for each complete revolution ofthe gear 116. It will be recalled, from the description above, that theshaft 66 with the feed wheels 58 thereon (FIG. 2) is rotated once foreach revolution of the gear 116 which rotates in unison with the earn118, due to the actuation of the clutch means 126 one time eachrevolution of the cam, as controlled by the low point 136 on the cam.Each time the shaft 60 and the feed wheels thereon make one revolution,one sheet from the feed table is fed through the machine, as describedmore fully hereinbelow, and since this shaft 60 makes one revolution foreach unit indication advancement of the counter, the counter acts as atrip counter and accurately counts the number of sheets folded. Thiskind of counter and the drive means therefor provides a distinctadvantage over those kinds of machines in which the sheets are fedcontinuously, since in the latter kinds of machines, it has been foundvirutally impossible to provide a mechanical counter that accuratelyperforms its intended function.

Attention is directed to FIGS. 13 to 17, inclusive, in connection withthe following description of the control means having a novelarrangement for selectively setting up automatic or manual control. Thearm 66 referred to above (FIG. 2) supporting one end of the shaft 60 andbar 62 of the feed means is shown at least partially in certain of thesefigures, and referring to FIG. 6 it will be seen that this arm ispivoted on the shaft 144 and thus pivoted coaxially with the arm 64 ofthe opposite end. The shaft 60 is rotatably supported in the swingingend of the main portion of this arm, and the arm has an upstanding ear376 supporting the end of the bar .62. The arm 66 at its swinging endalso has :1 depending arcuate leg portion 373 having a notch 336 at anupper point thereof and a cutout portion 382 (FIGS. 6 and 13) forming ashoulder 334 facing in a generally downward direction and utilized forretaining the arm 66 in elevated position, as described below. Fixedlysecured to the side plate 28 is a bracket 386 having an arm 388 for apurpose to be described later, and a generally downwardly depending 1%leg 398 on which is supported an electric switch 392 having an actuatingfinger 394.

An actuating assembly is incorporated in the controls and includes alever or arm member 396 (see also FIG. 16) pivoted on a stud 398 mountedin the side plate 28. This member includes an arm 480 on which ismounted a stud 482 and another arm 484 in which is formed an arcuateslot 466 receiving a stud 4G8 mounted in the side plate. A hairpinspring 418 has a central portion supported on the stud 398 with its armportions engaging the studs 482 and 488 and operative for biasing themember 396 to a position which will be referred to herein as a'neutralposition and as illustrated biases it clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 13,15 and 16.

The arm 404 of the member 396 has a lateral extension 412 on which isrigidly mounted a main arm 414. This arm 414 may for example, be ofchannel shape in cross section and has its web elementengaging theextension 412 and rigidly secured thereto. The flanges of the arm havelongitudinal slots 416 at their lower ends. At the upper end of the arm414 is a secondary arm or lever member 418 pivoted on a pin 420supported in the upper end of the flange elements of the arm 414. At anouter end ofthe secondary arm 418 is a hand grip button or lever 422which extends to the exterior as seen in FIG. 1 for grasping by the handand manipulating the control members. This secondary arm 418 also may bein the form of a channel in cross section and has a cutout porttionforming a shoulder 424 (FIG. 14) which engages the upper edge of the webof the arm 414 and forms a stop limiting swinging movement of the arm418 relative to the arm 414 in corresponding direction, namely,counterclockwise. This shoulder 424 being ofiset relative to the axis ofthe pin 428 provides the limiting means referred to, and when thisshoulder 'is in engagement with the upper edge of the web element of thearm 414, downward movement of the button 422 results in swinging thearms 418 and 414 rigidly together as a unit in the correspondingdirection or counterclockwise. This movement results in similar movementof the member 3% about the axis of the stud 398. v

At the inner end of the secondary arm 418 is a pin 428 on which ispivoted a link 426 which has another pin 430 at its lower end receivedin the slots 416. The arm 418 can be swung, however, in a clockwisedirection relative to the arm 414 .as will be observed from a comparisonof FIGS. 13 and 14. Assuming a starting neutral position shown in FIG.13 in which the pin 430 is elevated above the lower end of the slots,swinging movement of the arm 418 in clockwise direction as by graspingthe button 422 results in the link 426 being moved downwardly, the pin430 riding downwardly in the slot 416 in this movement.

A hairpin spring 432 (FIG. 17) is mounted on and carried by the arm 414and arranged with its end portions reacting between a fixed element 434on the arm and the inner swinging end of the arm 418 for providingfriction for releasably retaining the arm 418 in its set position, such,for example, as the position in FIG. 14. The friction between the pin430 and slots 416 also aids in retaining the arm 418 in set position.

The stud 402 on the member 396 is adapted for engagement in the notch388 in the leg 378, and also for engagement under the shoulder 384, inthe control operations of the machine.

Depression of the button 422 and resulting swinging movement of the arm414 and member 396 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot ofthe stud 398 results in the pin 430 engaging the actuating finger 334and moving the lower end thereof in corresponding direction (to theright FIG. 13') and closing the switch, the switch being so oriented forthat purpose, and the switch being opened when the arm 414 is in itsopposite or neutral position. In another operation the button 422 may beraised with consequent downward movement of the link 14- 426 asexplained, and this movement moves the pin 430 against the finger 394 ofthe switch and closes the switch while the arm 414 remains in itsneutral position.

Pivoted on the arm 388 referred to above is a link 436 to the other endof which is connected a tension spring 438, the opposite end of thespring being connected to a pin 448 carried by and located adjacent theouter swinging end of the arm 66. The link 436 adjacent its swinging endis provided with a slot 442 receiving a pin 444 in one arm of abellcrank lever 446 which is pivoted on a stud 448 fixed in the sideplate 28. The other arm of the bellcrank lever is provided with a pin450 engageable in any of a series of notches in an eccentric 452 mountedon stub shaft 454 rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing in the sideplate 28 and having on its opposite end a control knob 456 (see alsoFIGS. 1 and 2). Rotation of the eccentric 452 results in swinging of thebeliorank lever 446 about the stud 448 in one direction or the otherdepending on the direction of rotation of the eccentric and the otherarm of the hell'- crank lever acting through the pin 444 and working inthe slot 442 results in corresponding swinging of the link 436 about itspivot mounting. This swinging movement of the link 436 results inpressure exerted on the swinging end of the arm 66 and consequentpressure exerted on the feed wheels 58 which is transmitted to thesheets on the feed table. The swinging end of the link .436 is closelyadjacent the axis of the arm 66, in the shaft 144, and consequently thepressure exerted on the feed means may be either positive or negative,depending on the position of the link 436, as adjusted, except in theuppermost range of movement of the arm 66. Other features and advantagesof this pressure control means are set out in the copending applicationof the present Springer Serial No. 795,747, filed February 26, 1959, nowUS. Patent No. 3,063,711, to which reference may be had for completedescription.

'In order to set the folding machine in operation the control means heredescribed is actuated. Assuming a neutral position, the feed means 56 isin elevated position in which the feed wheels 58 are out of engagementwith the sheets on the feed table and the arm 66 is in its uppermostposition. The pin 402 engages under the shoulder 384 in the leg 378 andretains the feed means in its upper position. Assuming it is desired toset the machine to automatic operation, the operator depresses thecontrol button 422 which swings the arm 414 and member 396 in clockwisedirection. This control movement performs two operations or functions,namely, it closes the switch 392, and it withdraws the pin 402 from theshoulder 384. As a-consequence of the latter function, the arm 66 andthe feed means 56 drop by gravity until the feed wheels 58 engage thesheets on the feed table. The drive means is now in operation, due toclosing the switch, and as the sheets are fed from the feed table,the'feed means and arm 66 gradually lower, and the pin 482 rides on theouter surface 3'78a-of the leg portion 378 until the stack of sheets isdepleted, as a result of which the feed wheels drop into the depressions68 (FIG. 5) and at this position of the feed means and leg 378, the pin402 is in register with and moves into the notch 388. As a result, thearm 414 and member 396 swing to their neutral position permitting theswitch 392 to open. This stops the operation of the machine. To resetthe machine the operator grasps the rod 62 (FIG. 2) and lifts the feedmeans 56 to its upper position in which the pin 482 again engages underthe shoulder 384 and retains the feed means in its upper position. Whilethe feed means is being lifted the switch 392 may again be closed due tothe pin 402 riding on the'surface 378a, but this interval is very short.

The foregoing operational control is for automatic operation, butassuming that it is desired .to :perform a manual operation withoutautomatic shutoff, ;the button 422 is merely raised. This rocks the armT418 and de-

1. A FOLDING MACHINE INCLUDING A FRAME HAVING SPACED VERTICAL SIDEPLATES, A FEED TABLE FOR SUPPORTING A STACK OF SHEETS TO BE FOLDED,MEANS FOR FEEDING SHEETS FROM SAID FEED TABLE, A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OFROLLERS MOUNTED IN AND BETWEEN SAID SIDE PLATES AND ARRANGED IN ALONGITUDINAL SERIES AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SHEETS FROM SAID FEED TABLEAND TO ADVANCE THEM FROM THE FIRST PAIR OF ROLLERS TO SUCCESSIVE ONES, AFIRST FOLD PLATE MOUNTED IN AND BETWEEN SAID SIDE PLATES AND HAVING ANENTRY OPENING ADJACENT THE FIRST PAIR OF ROLLERS, SAID FIRST FOLD PLATEBEING DISPOSED ADJACENT THE TOP OF THE SIDE PLATES, STOP MEANS IN SAIDFIRST FOLD PLATE ADJUSTABLE THEREALONG FOR VARYING THE DISTANCE BETWEENTHE STOP AND THE FIRST PAID OF ROLLERS, A SECOND FOLD PLATE ADJACENT THEROLLERS OF A SUCCEEDING PAIR AND HAVING AN ENTRY OPENING FOR RECEIVING ASHEET FROM THE ROLLERS OF THAT PAIR, A STOP IN SAID SECOND FOLD PLATEADJUSTABLE THEREALONG FOR VARYING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE STOP AND THEENTRY OPENING IN THE FOLD PLATE, SAID LATTER STOP INCLUDING ELEMENTSDISTRIBUTED TRANSVERSELY ALONG THE CORRESPONDING FOLD PLATE, A SINGLELINK CONNECTED TO THE STOP IN SAID SECOND FOLD PLATE AT ONE SIDE OF THEFOLD PLATE AND DISPOSED OUTWARDLY OF AN ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID SIDEPLATES, AN ADJUSTING KNOB CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID LINK ANDDISPOSED INWARDLY OF SAID ASSOCIATED SIDE PLATE, MEANS FOR RELEASABLYSECURING SAID ADJUSTING KNOB IN A FIXED PORTION OF THE SIDE PLATE, SAIDADJUSTING KNOB, LINK AND STOP IN SAID SECOND FOLD PLATE TOGETHER FORMINGA RIGID UNIT WHEREBY TO ADJUST THE STOP IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF THEADJUSTING KNOB, MEANS INCLUDING ELEMENTS REACTING BETWEEN SAID STOP INTHE FOLD PLATE AND THAT FOLD PLATE FOR RETAINING THAT STOP ACCURATELYPOSITIONED TRANSVERSELY OF ITS FOLD PLATE AND ENABLING THE SLIDINGMOVEMENT OF THE STOP WITHOUT BINDING OR COCKING, NOTWITHSTANDING THESOLE CONNECTING MEANS BETWEEN THE STOP AND ADJUSTING KNOB IS DISPOSED ATONE SIDE OF THE CORRESPONDING FOLD PLATE, AND A CASING MEMBER SECURED ONSAID ONE SIDE PLATE ENCLOSING SAID LINK.